Cigarette consumption in the Philippines fell in April, based on tobacco excise tax collections by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), according to a story in The Manila Bulletin.
The BIR reported last week that excise tax collection from cigarettes amounted to P4.8 billion in April, compared with the P5.5 billion in April 2015.
The lower tax take was down to a reduced withdrawal of cigarettes from factories, which reached 179.2 million packs in April, 62.3 million lower than the 241.5 million that were withdrawn during April 2015.
Revenue officials speculated that the declining figures might be linked to the graphic images now required as part of cigarette-pack health warnings.
The law requiring the inclusion of graphic health warnings was implemented in March.